Posted on 06/16/2006 10:41:38 AM PDT by Small-L
President Bush has refused to meet with border law-enforcement officials from Texas for a second time. His response to their request came in the form of a letter Monday, angering both lawmakers and sheriffs.
In fact, some Republican members of the House, upset by what they call the administration's seeming lack of concern for border security, are preparing to hold investigative hearings in San Diego and Laredo, Texas, early next month.
Members of the House Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation hope to expose serious security flaws that could potentially lead to terrorist attacks in the country, said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who is a member of the panel and has pushed for the hearings.
"The next terrorist is not going to come in through (Transportation Security Administration) screening at Kennedy airport," Poe said. "We already have information that people from the Middle East have come through the border from Mexico. They assimilate in Mexico learning to speak Spanish and adopt customs and then they cross the border into the United States."
Poe requested the meeting for members of the Southwestern Sheriffs' Border Coalition a group that includes all 26 border-county sheriffs from California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. The sheriffs wanted to speak to the president about the increasing dangers in their communities and along the border.
"The president is the busiest man in the world but he needs to take the time to talk to the border sheriffs and learn what's happening in the real world from them," Poe said. "We can't understand why he refuses to meet with them."
In May, all of the Republican House members from Texas traveled to Washington to meet the president regarding border security. Bush did not meet with them, however, and former White House spokesman Scott McClellan was sent in his stead.
Poe said the White House letter dated Monday showed the disconnect between the administration and the American people who want the border secured.
"The president would appreciate the opportunity to visit with border sheriffs," said the White House letter written by La Rhonda M. Houston, deputy director of the Office of Appointments and Scheduling. "Regrettably, it will not be possible for us to arrange such a meeting. I know that you understand with the tremendous demands of the president's time, he must often miss special opportunities, as is the case this time."
Rick Glancey, spokesman for the sheriffs coalition, said its members are angry and disappointed in the president's response. Glancey said Bush's recent tour of the border with Border Patrol spokesmen did not reflect the reality of what locals live with every day.
"It's a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women on the front lines of rural America who every day engage in border-security issues," Glancey said. "He missed the opportunity to take off his White House cowboy boots and put some real cowboy boots on and walk in our shoes for a few minutes."
The border hearings will expose the truth to the American public and force the administration to take a serious look at the border, said Allan Knapp, Poe's legislative director.
Knapp and Poe have traveled twice to the border this year, spending time along barren stretches where they witnessed no security and numerous migrants crossing into the United States, they said.
"We need to expose the lack of border security before it is too late," Poe said. "We're fighting a war on terror in Iraq and we're winning, but we're losing our own border war. These hearings will be a necessary step in the right direction."
Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Chino-based Friends of the Border Patrol, said he has been called to testify before the panel in San Diego. Ramirez said he has turned in two years of Border Patrol documents and memos, which he will discuss before the committee.
"The president has basically pushed his whole administration's agenda toward the war on terror, yet he can't find the time to meet with law-enforcement leaders responsible for border security," Ramirez said. "It is appalling and outrageous that the war on terror and border security does not extend to the U.S. border."
Don't Drink & Post.
1) The Border Patrol is NOT under the auspices of the governors. That would be the National Guard, unless they are "Federalized".
3) The POTUS is also the "Chief" of ALL Federal Law Enforcement, which the BP is part of.
Wiley E. Coyote??
Thanks AC!
LOL, missed this earlier!
Bookmarked
I don't think your numbers are correct. The Border Patrol apprehends over a million illegals every year crossing the border. At least twice that many get away. These numbers don't inlcude those apprehended at the Ports of entry. I don't know exactly how many illegals crossed during the time parameters of your statistic but I'm sure the number of illegal entries exceed 6 million.
You sir are ignorant of the facts, the Border Patrol is part of Homeland Security, Which the last time I checked is part of the Federal Government. When I pass by the Border Patrol Sector Headquarters, which is a few blocks from my house, I see U.S. Border Patrol, on the signs, and the vehicles.
If you can't get that right, I have no intrest in your defense of our Open Borders President.
Ony if you obey the constitution, and no one does anymore. Tax bill regularly originate in the Senate. And lets not for get the Tax that Al Gore gave us on our phone bill, the "Internet for all Tax" and it is still on your bill.
Deporting them wouldn't be any harder than doing the above, in fact I think it would be more difficult to make them assimilate than deport them. Like you stated though, we don't have the will to deport them and as such we don't have the will to make them assimilate.
spin one for the sniffer!
No he ran on anybody but Kerry as I recall.
You comment is beneath contempt.
jorge could hand over the keys to the wh1teh0use to vlad putin and you would be able to start a praise and worship service for him.
They put the current numbers of illegals at 12 million (apprx of course)...and from those issued visas at one time or another over the past 15-20 years that are speculated for vary valid reasons not to have left (once expired) is around 6 million.
The notion that over twice as many get away yearly as we turn back I don't find accurate -
I don't agree - Once legal there are a number of mechanisms to help one have to assimilate - However, I do agree over the past 20 years of PC attitudes we have made the need to assimilate less and less (though this isn't GWB fault...and he simply has to deal with the realities of today....not pie in the sky wishful scenarios).
The reality is we could hardly deport ONE six-year old boy back to his OWN father without half this Country falling apart (mainly on the right....ironically so). The notion that we could mass deport 12 million people is simply foolishness (again, the logistics alone are mind boggling).
No, what is beneath contempt is the number of people who actually think the POTUS should be there to hold their whining, crying little hands each and every through bit of trouble or difficulty that life brings.
No, what is beneath contempt is the number of people who actually think the POTUS should be there to hold their whining, crying little hands through each and every bit of trouble or difficulty that life happens to bring.
If he does, America looses, I would guess from your comments, that would be your goal, If not, you should apply for the Job.
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